Death By Video Games Addiction Essay

Does computer gaming addiction lead to more dangerous consequences among children or adults?

The contemporary world develops extremely fast and becomes more globalized and digital in comparison to the previous times. Advanced technologies resulted in the creation of a new lifestyle among society, which has rather different features. Within the digital world, people gained an opportunity for a self-realization in the online realm, which can be considered as an adverse outcome. Video games are one of the most popular and widespread ways for realizing personality and expressing the character. Realization in the virtual world may stimulate a person to further self-development. In most cases, however, computer gaming leads to addiction and causes harmful effects, and even dangerous consequences on the children and adults’ by influencing their physical and mental health, and relationships with society and close people.

Computer gaming addiction causes violence among adults and children, where the latter social category is exposed to making it more than the first one. Violence can be manifested in various ways, although the most frequently used is attacking, which means demonstrating disrespect in uniquely rude manners to the people around a person. One of the main reasons for both social groups is that computer games consist harmful content in the form of violence itself. If a person becomes addicted from such type of games, they start to follow the behavior of the game characters, whose primary goals are making physical and moral harm to others, killing them with different weapons, and even being able of conducting the most severe crimes. As the addiction itself takes a long time, it means that youth or adults spend it by playing games. In other words, they obtain a particular habit, which in its turn, reduce their repugnance to being involved in the virtual world of violence. Consequently, the players overcome the psychological barrier and develop the desire to harm instead of being an upstanding citizen. When it comes to children in the young age, they have much exposure to the violence because of unstable character. It is said that “At school age, teenagers have less experience in life and less knowledge than adults in identifying reality from a simulation, and these young people may be more easily drawn to the borderless web game world or even aberration than are adults” (Harvard Publications, 2017). Undoubtedly, children can hardly differentiate the real and virtual worlds, and thus, their ability to take responsibility for their actions becomes very small. It mainly happens in cases when parents do not follow the adequate norms of upbringing their children, do not pay attention to their development, and, moreover, have no interest in them. It also correlates with the situation when teenagers have a particular stress situation, in which they easily fall under the influence of the video games system.

Raising children in disadvantaged families together with a tendency to abuse causes addiction among the children, which may lead to more dangerous consequences. As it was mentioned above, stress can become a trigger for addiction. Those children being raised inadequately, face the problem more frequently in comparison to their opponents. Moreover, the problem is also about the adults who had a difficult childhood. Physical abuse can always serve as a reason for the occurrence of mental problems of children in the young age. When a parent demonstrates some disrespect or ill-treatment to their children and family itself, family members try to either solve or avoid it in a various way. For children, it is likely to choose the second option, what they do in many cases because of inability to defend themselves and stand to be under the psychological pressure. One study revealed a clear example of this issue when analyzing the relationship between the family and the influence of the abuse problem on the child’s behavior. It proved that the computer gaming could cause danger to a child’s mental health. When it comes to a boy as a participant of the investigation, “the mental state that he attained while playing assisted his avoidance of the family problems and repression of aggressive and violent feelings toward his father” (Keepers 50). Chiu, Lee, and Huang (575) suggest parents take much part in the lives of their children and make an attempt to decide this problem in the way of developing their worldview and improving skills needed for self-realization. From these researches, one can see the negative consequences of the video games.

What is more, such process can also be followed by forming of another issue like isolation among children. Trying to escape the reality, they go to the virtual world feeling themselves much better. This tendency is also common for older people, who have been suffered in the childhood. As a result of avoiding communication, the building of some relationships with others, and socialization, they develop an addiction to gaming. This influences the lifestyle of children and adults, making them be out of the society and spending a lot of time alone with themselves. Such consequences are considered as negative as they have adverse impact on the individual growth, mental and physical development, the realization of personality in a particular, professional sphere. A study of computer gaming addiction among young people reveals the idea of their involvement in this process as the way of emotional compensation for those who had experienced some issues in the childhood (Chiu et. al. 272). The scientists make an argument that there is “a close relationship between sensation seeking and drug abuse, smoking, playing video games, sexual activities, high-adventure sports, and crimes” (Chiu et. al. 272). To clarify, this relationship finds its realization in various negative and dangerous consequences revealing through the chain of addiction, isolation, demonstration of aggression, violation, conducting the crime and even using alcohol and drugs with the aim of reducing the influence of the childhood background. Thus, personal isolation, inability to proper self-realization in real society, aggressive behavior, the disposition to conducting the crime, the possibility of becoming addicted from certain substances can be identified as the dangerous consequences of the computer gaming addiction.

In conclusion, video games are one of the most popular things to cause addiction, which has an adverse impact on various things in the psychological and sociological contexts. Being a subject of virtual reality, a game creates an illusion of a world very similar to the real but comparably useful for the players. Addicted children and adults consider it as an opportunity to live the better life and thus isolate themselves. However, within such a result, computer gaming addiction lead to dangerous consequences as violence, aggression, and crime. These problems prevent the social welfare and growth as well the personal development, and for this reason, should be addressed.

The argumentative essay above is dedicated to one of the most acute modern problems – computer gaming addiction. This psychological phenomenon is common both for adults and children. Computer games are an easy and quick escape from reality. Children hide behind their virtual life from real problems: bullying at school, bad parenting, and communication issues. Addicted teenagers hardly see the difference between the real and virtual worlds. They begin to copy a behavioral manner of game characters that commonly includes violence, committing crimes, etc. Video games addiction influences physical and mental health, perverts their relationships with relatives and society. The obsession with computer games is also widespread among the adults who have had troubled childhoods or suffer from failures in professional and social spheres.

If you are inspired by our argumentative essay about computer gaming addiction and want to create your own you should check out a list of interesting argumentative essay topics. Moreover, when you don’t have enough time to transform your ideas into a real paper, you can take advantage of our service EssayShark.com. We provide our clients with original and well-structured essays according to their requirements and academic standards. Our support team is available anywhere in the world!

As with gambling addiction, video game addiction is a clinical impulse control disorder. According to psychiatrist Michael Brody, MD, the criteria for video game addiction is the same as that for addiction to a substance. In both cases, the person requires more of the source as time goes on and becomes irritable and despondent when they cannot access it. In fact, video game addicts can even experience withdrawal symptoms.

Another clue that a person is addicted to video games, according to researchers at Kansas State University, is that they may play video games to alter their mood.

While the harm in addictions to substances is apparent in physical symptoms, it is often less clear with video game addiction. However, video game addiction can negatively affect a life in the same way a substance addiction can. Those who play for hours each day become withdrawn and isolated, foregoing work, school and other responsibilities to play. Younger addicts often miss out on critical education and important social development, while adults tend to experience deteriorating relationships and problems with their employers.

The physical effects of video game addiction include poor personal hygiene, hormonal disturbances from sleep deprivation, and what the American Physical Therapy Association refers to as video gamer’s thumb, a repetitive use injury characterized by tendonitis and swelling. Many addicted gamers gain weight as a result of their sedentary lifestyles and tendency to reach for high-calorie processed foods and beverages.

Some experts warn that excessive gaming can even be fatal. A tech-addiction expert in Seattle said she has known of people who have died from heart attacks and blood clots, both results of the unhealthy lifestyle many extreme gamers live.

The warning signs of video game addiction include:

Gaming to escape difficult life situations

Playing for longer periods as time goes on

Skipping showers and meals to play

Poor performance at work or school

Lying to others to hide gaming activities

Exhibiting signs of irritation when forced to stop gaming

Although the American Psychological Association has not yet classified video game addiction as a mental illness, many experts contend that the signs and symptoms of the problem are similar to those of compulsive disorders such as gambling and sex addiction.

If you or someone you care about needs help dealing with a video game addiction, call us at 1-888-997-3147 today.

What Causes Video Game Addictions?

Researchers are not certain what causes video game addiction; however, some experts believe that elevated dopamine levels contribute heavily to the problem. The neurotransmitter dopamine works in the brain’s reward center. It is released during activities most people find pleasurable, including eating and consuming certain drugs.

Therapists view all addictions as functioning essentially the same way. In the case of non-substance addictions, such as those to sex, gambling and gaming, the behavior takes the place of a substance. The action of playing generates a feeling of pleasure, which ensures the addict will repeat the action as often as possible.

In a report published by CBC News in April 2013, a gaming addiction expert said those with certain personality disorders or disabilities are at greater risk than others. She noted that people who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger’s are particularly susceptible to gaming addiction.

Those who study video game addiction also believe that the problem has a psychological component. They contend that compulsive gamers retreat to a fantasy world to escape their real-life troubles and unpleasant emotions. According to a recent report, 41 percent of those who play online video games indicated they game to escape from reality.

Staff at treatment centers designed to help video game addicts understand the underlying causes of the problem and are equipped to help. Call us at 1-888-997-3147 to learn how we can help you or your loved one overcome this addiction.

Premium Sponsor

Is There a Cure for Video Game Addiction?

Treatment for video game addiction is similar to that for other addictions. Counseling and behavior modification are the primary means of treating addicted gamers. Together, individual and family counseling are powerful treatment tools. Some treatment facilities incorporate medication in their programs.

However, unlike drugs or alcohol, video games are tied to computers, which are a key part of life for most people. In that way, the addiction is similar to a food addiction. As a result, some treatment centers explore controlled use rather than abstinence.

No overall cure for video game addiction exists. As with alcoholism and drug addiction, the key is to enter treatment and to stay aware of triggers while continuing to participate in recovery groups, such as Online Gamers Anonymous.

Therapies for Video Game Addicts

Research on treatment for video game addiction is ongoing, but few clinical trials have been conducted in relation to the problem. Experts agree that the same treatments used for sufferers of other addictions appear to work for video game addicts. As a result, they generally recommend counseling and psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step programs and medication, either individually or in combination with other treatment methods.

One-on-one counseling and family counseling are both effective in treating a gaming addict. Psychotherapists attempt to help the addict understand how gaming is related to their school or job, emotions and moods, and sense of life goals and rewards.

Where 12-step programs are concerned, the primary resource available is Online Gamers Anonymous, a non-profit organization founded in 2002.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Treatment

Many experts recommend cognitive behavioral therapy as the ideal treatment for video game addiction. The therapy allows the addict to shift their thoughts, replacing those that lead to compulsive gaming with healthier thinking patterns. As its name implies, cognitive behavioral therapy allows a person to modify their thoughts, feelings and ultimately behavior for the better.

Therapists consider addiction a belief or way of thinking that leads to irrational, often unhealthy behaviors. They start treatment by identifying and focusing on the thoughts that start the chain of addiction and help the addict begin their transition from there.

Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques include setting goals and then learning to overcome the thinking that sparks compulsive gaming.

Other Therapeutic Methods

Wilderness therapy is an alternative treatment for video game addiction. Proponents of the method contend that by removing the addict from the source of the addiction, the therapy offers the best chance of recovering. They also believe that placing addicts in a natural environment, free of the trappings and distractions of modern life, allows them to learn to be comfortable with their own emotions.

Residential Inpatient Gaming Addiction Treatment Centers

Inpatient treatment for addicted gamers is best for those who need to leave their environment altogether for a time in order to heal. Such treatment centers offer group therapy, individual counseling and a game-free atmosphere.

Some inpatient facilities offer private rooms, while some offer dorm-like accommodations. All these programs are designed to make the patient feel safe, comfortable and supported as they embark on a healing journey.

Once an addict has allowed their life opportunities to diminish by withdrawing entirely into the addiction, they have few options for overcoming the dependency on their own. This is where inpatient treatment facilities are a tremendous help. They help patients relearn healthy coping skills in a contained environment.

For help in selecting a treatment center, call 1-888-997-3147. We are available 24/7 to help you find the facility you need.

The Benefits of Residential Video Game Addiction Treatments

Residential, or inpatient, video game treatment centers offer the patient ample time to recover from the addiction. Some people only require a 30-day stay, while others benefit from a minimum of 60 days at such a center.

In addition, residential treatment centers protect each patient’s privacy while helping them to become equipped for an addiction-free life. Many centers offer flexible payment plans, while most accept insurance.

Luxury Video Game Addiction Facilities

If you are interested in an inpatient treatment center with amenities, you can find what you want at a luxury video game addiction facility. Such centers offer everything from massage therapy to gourmet meals. Many find that the luxuries offered at these facilities make recovery more comfortable, ensuring the individual stays in treatment for longer.

Executive Video Game Addiction Programs

Those who have hesitated to seek treatment for their gaming addictions owing to responsibilities at work might be good candidates for executive video game addiction programs. These inpatient centers offer limited access to computers and mobile phones to permit business executives to stay in touch with the office while undergoing treatment.

Outpatient Video Game Rehab and Treatment Programs

Outpatient video game rehabilitation programs share many of the traits of inpatient programs, minus the overnight accommodations. Outpatient programs offer significantly more freedom for the patient, who, at the end of each session, is allowed to return home. Such a structure permits patients to maintain commitments to work, school, friends and family. Another benefit of an outpatient program is that the patient can enjoy a support network without needing to reveal to coworkers or fellow students that they are undergoing treatment for an addiction.

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications

Although clinical trials are in the early stages, there is some indication that certain medications help video game addicts by altering their brain chemistry to reduce the urge to play. Buproprion, in particular, has appeared to offer help to some addicts by inhibiting norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake. A six-week trial showed that those taking the drug experienced fewer cravings to play.

Many video game addicts appear to suffer from undiagnosed depression and anxiety disorders as well. Once they receive help, often in the form of medication, for one problem, they have a better chance of overcoming their gaming addictions as well.

How to Find the Best Video Game Addiction Treatment Facility

Recent developments within the psychiatric field may mean more treatment options for addicted gamers in the near future. In May 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the official guide for those in the mental health field, included a recommendation to continue studying Internet-use disorder, which encompasses video game addiction. The recommendation adds legitimacy to claims that video game addiction is a bona fide disorder that requires treatment. That recommendation combined with an increasing number of available statistics, such as that nearly one in every 10 gamers ages 8 to 18 is addicted to playing, should result in more options for those finding help in treating video gaming addiction.

If you are looking for a video game addiction treatment facility, we can help. Call 1-888-997-3147 to discuss treatment options.